1991: Gene Hyde, City Forester, Chattanooga.
1992: Guy Zimmerman, Area Forester, Tennessee Division of Forestry, Cookeville
1993: Jim Cortese, Cortese Tree Specialists, Knoxville
1994: Janet Bunch, Landscape Design Services, City Horticulturist, Seymore
1995: Dr. Alva Pendergrass, Retired Army Colonel, Martin
1996: Shawn Bible, Metro Beautification/Ten. Dept. Of Transportation, Nashville
1997: Brett Smith, Landscape Architect, Regan Smith & Associates, Nashville
1998: Kim Cross, Private Arborist, Southern Tree Specialists, Brentwood
1999: Bill Wyatt, County Agent, UT Extension Service, Jackson
2000: Cynthia Holloway, City Horticulturist, Murfreesboro
2001: David Vandergriff, County Agent, UT Extension Service, Maynardville
2002: Marty Shaw, President, Tree Injection Products Company, Knoxville
2003: Dottie Mann, Private Citizen, Past Tree Board President, Clarksville
2004: Michael Bouton, City Arborist, City of Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro
2005: Sam Adams, General Manager, Cortese Tree Specialists, Knoxville
2006: Patrick Haller, Horticulturist, City of McMinnville, Quality Trees, Sparta
2007: Patrick Haller, Haller's Landscaping, Sparta
2008: Patrick Walding, City Forester, Johnson City
2009: Karla Kean, U.S. Extension Agent, Clarksville
2010: Heather Langford, SSRCx, Nashville
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The first urban forestry council in Tennessee met on February 14, 1991 at 10:00 a.m. at the main conference room of the Department of Conservation, 701 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee. The urban forestry section of the Tennessee Division of Forestry organized the meeting.
Individuals present to form this council were Alice Ann Barge, Marilyn Brown, Janet Bunch, Steve Clark, Josh Collins, Jim Cortese, Debra Dedrick, Kim Hawkins, Gene Hyde, Jim Johnson, Wilma Keeney, Martine Madlinger, Rick Minton, Tom Simpson, Dr. George Weaver and Guy Zimmerman. Others present included Ed Macie of the US Forest Service, Roy Ashley, Hart Applegate, Wayne Clatterbuck, Marsha Thibault and Bruce Webster of the Tennessee Division of Forestry and Sharon Fitzgerald from the Tennessee Municipal League.
Individuals invited but not able to attend include Dr. Douglas Airhart, Dr. Don Ellis, Rev. Alvin Oldham and Plato Touliatous.
Roy Ashley, State Forester/Assistant Commissioner opened the meeting with welcome and introductory remarks. Another individual present gave introductions of each person.
Bruce Webster, staff urban forester, gave an overview of the status of urban forestry in Tennessee and a description of the Division of Forestry's role in urban forestry in recent years.
Ed Macie from Atlanta gave a presentation describing the urban forestry activities across the southeast region and the Federal Forest Service's role in urban forestry. Ed continued his remarks by describing some of the roles that an urban forest council can play, and some of the activities that Tennessee's council may sponsor. Examples of these activities include: leadership development, exchange of ideas and information, develop urban and community forestry policies, assist the state forestry agency in program planning and delivery, establish statewide networks, and develop grass roots support for urban forestry. Ed concluded his morning remarks by asking the members to discuss over lunch the key issues and/or critical needs of urban forestry in Tennessee.
After lunch the group developed a list of these issues and everyone had a chance to discuss them. The group identified 40 issues (see attached list) and then was given a chance to prioritize them. While several issues relating to education of various target audiences appeared, the number one issue appeared to be the need to educate developers. (Note: We neglected to put one flip chart sheet on the wall, therefore, some items did not get rated. If you feel strongly about an issue from the unrated list, bring it up at the next meeting.)
The next item of business was a discussion of objectives designed to address these issues and needs. While none were formally adopted, the suggestions included publications, advertising, PSA's/ad council, developing funding, utilizing crisis, approaching builders, chamber of commerce and realtor associations and tapping existing institutions such as libraries and extension service. Tennessee's regional differences were noted in dealing with information and the importance of a systematic approach to delivery was stressed.
The last item of business was to form a founder's committee and set the next meeting date. The founders committee consists of Gene Hyde, Chairman, Guy Zimmerman, Vice-Chairman, Marilyn Brown, Janet Bunch, Josh Collins, Kim Hawkins, Jim Johnson and Rick Minton. The meeting dates were set for the founders committee for March 4, 1991, 10 a.m. at the Department of Conservation's, main conference room, 701 Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee and for the full council to reconvene on March 21, 1991 at the same time and location.
Respectfully submitted, Bruce Webster, Executive Secretary.
URBAN FORESTRY ISSUES & NEEDS
1st Rating 2nd Rating
Tree Education for developers 13 8
Tree Education for General Public 8 7
Funding 11 6
Establish channels for exchange of technical information between disciplines 12 4
Licensing of Tree technicians 10 4
Developing landscape & Tree protection ordinances 8 4
Tree education of Forestry & non-forestry professionals 7 4
Dealing with political & bureaucratic road blocks 6 3
Plug into city planning/zoning, utilities, and other developments (early stage) 12 2
Develop a teamwork approach to urban forestry 7 2
Increase the awareness of the value of trees 9 1
Lack of knowledge in designing space for trees in cities 8 0
Establishing environmental ethics 7 0
Poor tree care 6 0
OTHER TREE RELATED ISSUES
1st Rating
5 Use of large landscape materials
5 Providing program incentives
5 Need for Urban Forestry research
5 Dealing with tree problems related to construction
5 Need for multi-disciplinary information sharing
5 Promoting Tree City USA
4 Defining proper tree care
4 Tree physiology
4 Ethics among Urban Forestry professionals
4 Awareness of Urban Wildlife considerations
4 Ordinance enforcement
3 Tree topping
3 Sell education about trees
3 Economics of Urban trees
2 Standardize terminology
2 Plant availability
1 Tree roots
1 Tree compartmentalization
1 Urban forest diversity
1 Urban forest program development
1 Tree quality
The following issues were identified but were not rated by the group because the flip sheet was mistakenly not posted.
- Maintenance of trees
- Utility companies topping trees
- Tree abuse by vehicle, salt, pedestrian, etc.
- Absence of trees
- Maintaining enthusiasm for tree projects